The Evening Wrap: GST Council reaches consensus on GST Appellate Tribunal

The GST Council meeting was held on February 18 and discussed setting up of appellate tribunals, and a mechanism to curb tax evasion in pan masala and gutkha business, among other matters. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 49th meeting of the GST Council. Briefing on the GST Appellate Tribunal, she said, “The GoM report on the establishment of the GST Appellate Tribunal has been accepted with slight modifications in the language that will be shared with States tomorrow and following which a final draft of the Tribunal’s setting up will be worked out. The GST Council has authorised the chairperson to take the final view and incorporate it in the Finance Bill, since there is not much time for the Council to meet again. “Now that the GST Council has agreed on the tribunal, the changes required in the text will be finalised by March 3 so that this year’s Finance Bill itself can help set up the Tribunal.” The Minister said, “We have had a very detailed day-long meeting. The atmosphere was entirely cordial and there was a sense of working together and as a result, two GOM reports have been accepted. One of them has a slight amendment and some changes in the language.” She said, “The entire dues of GST Compensation pending to States are being cleared today. The entire pending balance of GST Compensation of ₹16,982 crore for June 2022 will be cleared, though it is not available in the GST Compensation Fund as of now and will be recouped from future cess collections after being paid out from the Centre’s coffers. “In addition to this, the Centre will also clear additional compensation claims made by States where the Accountant General has certified them. These amount to ₹16,524 crore.” MCD Mayoral polls to be held on February 22 Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena approved the proposed date of February 22 to convene the adjourned first House meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which will also see elections to the office of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and six members to the civic body’s standing committee. The proposed date was recommended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The announcement came a day after the Supreme Court ordered the issuance of a notice within 24 hours for convening the first meeting of the MCD to fix the date of election for Mayor, Deputy Mayor and members of the Standing Committee. In a shot in the arm for the ruling AAP, the apex court had also held that members nominated by the L-G to the MCD cannot vote to elect the Mayor. The MCD could not elect the Mayor on three previous occasions amid tumult as AAP and BJP councillors quarrelled over the voting rights of the nominated members. The first meeting of the newly elected MCD House was adjourned on January 6 amid clashes between AAP and BJP members. 12 cheetahs from South Africa find new home in M.P.’s Kuno National Park; animal count rises to 20 Twelve cheetahs arrived in Madhya Pradesh from South Africa and were released into the quarantine enclosures at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district, five months after the first batch of eight of these fastest land animals were brought there from Namibia, another African nation. Their inter-continental translocation is part of the Indian government’s ambitious programme to reintroduce these animals in the country seven decades after they became extinct. The last cheetah died in Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. With the addition of these 12 members, the count of cheetahs at the KNP has gone up to 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released eight felines from Namibia into the KNP on September 17 last year. An Indian Air Force plane carrying the 12 cheetahs, seven males and five females, from South Africa, arrived at the Gwalior airport around 10 am. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for Environment and Forests Bhupender Yadav released these felines into the quarantine bomas after the animals arrived at the KNP. While eight cheetahs were put up in separate quarantine enclosures, four others were kept in two bomas in pairs. With their arrival, there are now 10 male cheetahs and as many females at the park. The South African big cats will be kept in the quarantine enclosures for at least a month before they are moved into the acclimatisation bomas. A decision on it will be taken by the task force on cheetahs, officials said. South Africa has donated these big cats to India. But India has to pay $3,000 for the capture of every cheetah to the African nation before they are translocated, a wildlife expert said. Supreme Court imposes interim stay on proceedings against government official over rape of minor The Supreme Court has ordered an interim stay on the proceedings against a senior government official accused of molesting and raping a minor girl in Uttarakhand’s Almora. A Bench of Justices V. Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal issued notices to the Uttarakhand Government, the Central Bureau of Investigation and others while seeking their response in four weeks. Senior advocate Dama Sheshadri Naidu, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that the report of the Medical Officer, Government Hospital, Ranikhet, also countersigned by the Remand Magistrate, Almora, records the fact that the petitioner is a bilateral amputee (100% handicapped by hands). “Since the petition raises serious questions, issue notice, returnable in four weeks. It is stated that the final report has been filed on November 30, 2022 and the charges are yet to be framed. Therefore, there shall be an interim stay of further proceedings,” the Bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by A.V. Premnath, who was posted as joint secretary at Delhi Secretariat, seeking a CBI investigation into alleged criminal conspiracy against him. Terrorism, insurgency, left-wing extremism down by 80% under Modi government: Amit Shah The country has seen an 80% reduction in violence from terrorism in Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and left-wing extremism under the Narendra Modi government, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, underscoring that the Prime Minister’s vision is to see India at the top in the world. He was speaking at an event organised by the Lokmat Media group in Nagpur to celebrate the birth centenary of founder-editor and veteran freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda, popularly known as ‘Babuji’, and the golden jubilee of its Marathi newspaper’s edition from the city. Explaining the three big aims of ‘ Amrit Kaal’, the 25-year period culminating in the centenary of India’s independence, mooted by PM Modi, Shah said the first goal is to showcase the sacrifices of freedom fighters before the present generation. The second aim is to bring before the people the progress made by the country in the past 75 years, while the third aim is to ensure that India reaches the top in all sectors in the next 25 years, he said. Shah said the Kashmir Valley saw about 1.8 crore tourists in one year, which he called a “big thing”. “There had been investments worth ₹12,000 crore in Kashmir in 70 years but under the Modi government, it has got ₹12,000 crore in just three years,” he said. Insurgency has significantly come down in the Northeast, he said, stressing that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), a controversial statute, has been withdrawn from about 60% of the area in the Northeast. Russia committed ‘crimes against humanity’ in Ukraine: Kamala Harris at Munich Security Conference The Biden administration formally concluded that Russia has committed “crimes against humanity” during its nearly year-long invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said. “In the case of Russia’s actions in Ukraine we have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt: these are crimes against humanity,” Harris, a former prosecutor, said in prepared remarks being delivered in a speech at the Munich Security Conference. “And I say to all those who have perpetrated these crimes, and to their superiors who are complicit in those crimes, you will be held to account.” The official determination, which came at the end of a legal and factual analysis led by the U.S. State Department, carries with it no immediate consequences for the ongoing war. But Washington hopes that it could help further isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin and galvanise legal efforts to hold members of his government accountable through international courts and sanctions. Harris’ speech comes as senior Western leaders met in Munich to assess Europe’s worst conflict since World War Two. She said Russia was now a “weakened” country after Biden led a coalition to punish Putin for the invasion, but Russia is only intensifying assaults in Ukraine’s east. Meanwhile, Ukraine is planning a spring counteroffensive, for which it is seeking more, heavier and longer-range weapons from its Western allies. The nearly year-long war has killed tens of thousands, uprooted millions from their homes, pummelled the global economy and made Putin a pariah in the West. Washington had already concluded that Russian forces were guilty of war crimes as has a U.N.-mandated investigation, but the Biden administration conclusion that Russia’s actions amount to “crimes against humanity” implies a legal analysis that acts from murder to rape are widespread, systematic and intentionally directed against civilians. In international law, it is seen as a more serious offence. In Brief: Over 45,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, and the toll is expected to soar with some 2,64,000 apartments in Turkey destroyed and many still missing in the country’s worst modern disaster. Eleven days after the quake hit, three survivors were dug out from the rubble in Turkey on Friday. The death toll in Turkey stands at 39,672, while neighbouring Syria has reported more than 5,800 deaths. Syria’s toll has not changed for days. Meanwhile, local media reported that the body of former Ghana international football player Christian Atsu has been found in Turkey, quoting his manager. Atsu was found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey, his agent said. “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet told reporters in Hatay, where the athlete’s body was found. “Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found.” Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. [logo] The Evening Wrap 18 FEBRUARY 2023 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( GST Council reaches broad consensus on GST Appellate Tribunal The [GST Council meeting was held on February 18 and discussed setting up of appellate tribunals]( and a mechanism to curb tax evasion in pan masala and gutkha business, among other matters. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 49th meeting of the GST Council. Briefing on the GST Appellate Tribunal, she said, “The GoM report on the establishment of the GST Appellate Tribunal has been accepted with slight modifications in the language that will be shared with States tomorrow and following which a final draft of the Tribunal’s setting up will be worked out. The GST Council has authorised the chairperson to take the final view and incorporate it in the Finance Bill, since there is not much time for the Council to meet again. [Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressing a press conference after the GST Council meeting in New Delhi on February 18, 2023.] “Now that the GST Council has agreed on the tribunal, the changes required in the text will be finalised by March 3 so that this year’s Finance Bill itself can help set up the Tribunal.” The Minister said, “We have had a very detailed day-long meeting. The atmosphere was entirely cordial and there was a sense of working together and as a result, two GOM reports have been accepted. One of them has a slight amendment and some changes in the language.” She said, “The entire dues of GST Compensation pending to States are being cleared today. The entire pending balance of GST Compensation of ₹16,982 crore for June 2022 will be cleared, though it is not available in the GST Compensation Fund as of now and will be recouped from future cess collections after being paid out from the Centre’s coffers. “In addition to this, the Centre will also clear additional compensation claims made by States where the Accountant General has certified them. These amount to ₹16,524 crore.” MCD Mayoral polls to be held on February 22 [Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena approved the proposed date of February 22 to convene the adjourned first House meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi]( (MCD), which will also see elections to the office of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and six members to the civic body’s standing committee. The proposed date was recommended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The announcement came a day after the Supreme Court ordered the issuance of a notice within 24 hours for convening the first meeting of the MCD to fix the date of election for Mayor, Deputy Mayor and members of the Standing Committee. In a shot in the arm for the ruling AAP, the apex court had also held that members nominated by the L-G to the MCD cannot vote to elect the Mayor. The MCD could not elect the Mayor on three previous occasions amid tumult as AAP and BJP councillors quarrelled over the voting rights of the nominated members. The first meeting of the newly elected MCD House was adjourned on January 6 amid clashes between AAP and BJP members. 12 cheetahs from South Africa find new home in M.P.’s Kuno National Park; animal count rises to 20 [Twelve cheetahs arrived in Madhya Pradesh from South Africa and were released into the quarantine enclosures at the Kuno National Park]( (KNP) in Sheopur district, five months after the first batch of eight of these fastest land animals were brought there from Namibia, another African nation. Their inter-continental translocation is part of the Indian government’s ambitious programme to reintroduce these animals in the country seven decades after they became extinct. The last cheetah died in Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. [A cheetah from South Africa after it was released into a quarantine enclosure at the Kuno National Park in Sheopur district on February 18, 2023. Photo: Twitter/@byadavbjp via PTI] With the addition of these 12 members, the count of cheetahs at the KNP has gone up to 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released eight felines from Namibia into the KNP on September 17 last year. An Indian Air Force plane carrying the 12 cheetahs, seven males and five females, from South Africa, arrived at the Gwalior airport around 10 am. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for Environment and Forests Bhupender Yadav released these felines into the quarantine bomas after the animals arrived at the KNP. While eight cheetahs were put up in separate quarantine enclosures, four others were kept in two bomas in pairs. With their arrival, there are now 10 male cheetahs and as many females at the park. The South African big cats will be kept in the quarantine enclosures for at least a month before they are moved into the acclimatisation bomas. A decision on it will be taken by the task force on cheetahs, officials said. South Africa has donated these big cats to India. But India has to pay $3,000 for the capture of every cheetah to the African nation before they are translocated, a wildlife expert said. Supreme Court imposes interim stay on proceedings against government official over rape of minor The [Supreme Court has ordered an interim stay on the proceedings against a senior government official accused of molesting and raping a minor girl in Uttarakhand’s Almora](. A Bench of Justices V. Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal issued notices to the Uttarakhand Government, the Central Bureau of Investigation and others while seeking their response in four weeks. Senior advocate Dama Sheshadri Naidu, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that the report of the Medical Officer, Government Hospital, Ranikhet, also countersigned by the Remand Magistrate, Almora, records the fact that the petitioner is a bilateral amputee (100% handicapped by hands). “Since the petition raises serious questions, issue notice, returnable in four weeks. It is stated that the final report has been filed on November 30, 2022 and the charges are yet to be framed. Therefore, there shall be an interim stay of further proceedings,” the Bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by A.V. Premnath, who was posted as joint secretary at Delhi Secretariat, seeking a CBI investigation into alleged criminal conspiracy against him. Terrorism, insurgency, left-wing extremism down by 80% under Modi government: Amit Shah The [country has seen an 80% reduction in violence from terrorism in Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and left-wing extremism under the Narendra Modi government]( said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, underscoring that the Prime Minister’s vision is to see India at the top in the world. He was speaking at an event organised by the Lokmat Media group in Nagpur to celebrate the birth centenary of founder-editor and veteran freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda, popularly known as ‘Babuji’, and the golden jubilee of its Marathi newspaper’s edition from the city. Explaining the three big aims of ‘ Amrit Kaal’, the 25-year period culminating in the centenary of India’s independence, mooted by PM Modi, Shah said the first goal is to showcase the sacrifices of freedom fighters before the present generation. The second aim is to bring before the people the progress made by the country in the past 75 years, while the third aim is to ensure that India reaches the top in all sectors in the next 25 years, he said. Shah said the Kashmir Valley saw about 1.8 crore tourists in one year, which he called a “big thing”. “There had been investments worth ₹12,000 crore in Kashmir in 70 years but under the Modi government, it has got ₹12,000 crore in just three years,” he said. Insurgency has significantly come down in the Northeast, he said, stressing that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), a controversial statute, has been withdrawn from about 60% of the area in the Northeast. Russia committed ‘crimes against humanity’ in Ukraine: Kamala Harris at Munich Security Conference The Biden administration formally concluded that [Russia has committed “crimes against humanity” during its nearly year-long invasion of Ukraine]( U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said. “In the case of Russia’s actions in Ukraine we have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt: these are crimes against humanity,” Harris, a former prosecutor, said in prepared remarks being delivered in a speech at the Munich Security Conference. “And I say to all those who have perpetrated these crimes, and to their superiors who are complicit in those crimes, you will be held to account.” The official determination, which came at the end of a legal and factual analysis led by the U.S. State Department, carries with it no immediate consequences for the ongoing war. But Washington hopes that it could help further isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin and galvanise legal efforts to hold members of his government accountable through international courts and sanctions. Harris’ speech comes as senior Western leaders met in Munich to assess Europe’s worst conflict since World War Two. She said Russia was now a “weakened” country after Biden led a coalition to punish Putin for the invasion, but Russia is only intensifying assaults in Ukraine’s east. Meanwhile, Ukraine is planning a spring counteroffensive, for which it is seeking more, heavier and longer-range weapons from its Western allies. The nearly year-long war has killed tens of thousands, uprooted millions from their homes, pummelled the global economy and made Putin a pariah in the West. Washington had already concluded that Russian forces were guilty of war crimes as has a U.N.-mandated investigation, but the Biden administration conclusion that Russia’s actions amount to “crimes against humanity” implies a legal analysis that acts from murder to rape are widespread, systematic and intentionally directed against civilians. In international law, it is seen as a more serious offence. In Brief: [Over 45,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria]( and the toll is expected to soar with some 2,64,000 apartments in Turkey destroyed and many still missing in the country’s worst modern disaster. Eleven days after the quake hit, three survivors were dug out from the rubble in Turkey on Friday. The death toll in Turkey stands at 39,672, while neighbouring Syria has reported more than 5,800 deaths. Syria’s toll has not changed for days. Meanwhile, local media reported that the [body of former Ghana international football player Christian Atsu has been found in Turkey]( quoting his manager. Atsu was found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey, his agent said. “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet told reporters in Hatay, where the athlete’s body was found. “Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found.” Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. First Day First Show Stay up-to-date on all things cinema with the "First Day First Show" cinema & entertainment newsletter. Every week, we bring you movie reviews, news from regional cinema, Bollywood, Hollywood, and beyond, as well as updates from the streaming platforms. Whether you're a cinephile or just looking for your next great binge-watch, we've got you covered. 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